Tide-motor.



No. 657,943. Patented sepn ls, |9uo.

F. n. KIMBALL.

TIDE MDTOR.

(Appucsion filed Apr. 2, 1500.1 (No Model.)

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' f UNITED-1 STATES y PATENT @ir-Flon..

FRANKLIN R. KIMBALL, or SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

rma-Moron.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,943, datedseptember is, 1900.

Application tiled April 2. 1.900'. Serial No. 11,170. xNo model.)

This invention relates to mechanisnrfor' utilizing the power of thetides to rotate shafting at suitable velocities for use as a primemover.

Tide-motors have usually been constructed by connecting a Hoat with along train of speed-increasing toothed gearing, so that the shafting mayrotate at a suitable speed, this arrangement of the shaft permanentlycon.

nected to the gearing resulting in such frictional losses as to be of novalue for motive purposes.

This inventionconsists in devices thatare adapted to utilize thecapacity to perform work of the great mass but low velocity of the tidesto raise bodies which are released and allowed to fall unimpeded by themechanism that elevated them, so that the effect of their weight andvelocity of fall may be imparted to the shaft to be driven in such amanner as not to impede the shaft when the weights become iner Anembodiment of the invention might comprise a suitably-guided floatcarrying racks meshing with pinions to drive a motionmultiplying trainof gearing provided with suitable clutching devices, so that Weightssupported in proper relation to the shaft to be driven may be raised,and upon release from the elevating devices clutched to the shaft to bedriven, so that in their fall the effect of gravity alone may rotate thesaid shaft, thus giving to it a velocity that is independent of theelevating mechanism of the weights. For the purpose of rendering themotion more regular the number of weights may be increased, and forgreater power the size of the Weights is also increased, each of theWeights acting to deliver its impulse upon release, in an analogousmanner to the pressure of gases in an engine-cylinder, to aid inrotating the shaft that is to be driven. Energy transmitted by theseveral impulses may be stored up in a heavy fly-wheel or other work ofthe tide, and the arrangement of the shaft so it is not imreded by theactuating devices is another useful feature.

The invention further consists of the devices and their combinationswhich will be more at/large set forth. 4

In the drawings, Figure l is a partial sec- Fig. 2 is a partial plan ofthe same, with the float lifting a Weight While another weight isdriving the shaft in its fall.

A suitable supporting structure may consist of piles a, to whichstringers b may-be secured with treenails, the stringers being connectedby headers c to form a rigid structure. Stringers b project beyond thepier and together with the end sills (not shown) inclose the well el,Within which moves the oat e, bounded by the guiding-pilesfof the well,so its motion is substantially vertical. From the iloat long sparsextend upward, car- .tional elevation of a form of my tide-motor. 'r

rying racks g and h, running in guides secured to the stringere, thatmesh with pinions i and j, which are loosely mounted on the arbor k,each pinion carrying a springpawl Z to engage the ratchets m or n,secured to the arbor. Upon the arbor k are secured sprocket-gears o,connected by chains with sprocket-pinions p, sleeved upon the shaft qwhich is to be driven. Connected with the sprocket-pinions upon the samesleeves are ratchets r in driving relation, by means of spring-pawls s,with Wheels t, also free to revolve on the shaft q, which wheels may, ifnecessary, have heavy rims, so that they may act as fly-wheels. Each ofthe wheels has a large mass or Weight u formed on the rim. Spring-pawlsfv, attached to the Wheels, act to engage With ratchets w, fast on theshaft q, so the Wheels may rotate the shaft in one direction or theshaft may run free of the wheels. It is understood that frictionalclutching mechanism may bev utilized instead of the ratchets describedwhen better suited to the work to be performed. The racks are dupli- 5nearly in.

cated, so any pitching movement of the oat may act to revolve thesprocket-Wheels, as well as the normal rise and fall of the tide.

In the drawings the tide is illustrated as As it continues to rise therack g turns the pinion t', which is loose on the ar bor k, and by meansf t-he spring-pawl l, meshingr with the ratchetm, which is secured tothe arbor, the sprocket-gear o is revolved.

to If the tide were to fall, the rack h would turn pinion j and by meansof a springpaw] l, meshing with the ratchet n, which is secured to thearbor, would revolve the sprocketgear. This arrangement utilizes eitherthe rise or fall ot' the tide to rotate the sprocketthereby lit'ts aweight u above the shaft, and

as itl passes the center the weight, acting nnder the velocity due togravity, revolves the wheel at greater speed than the speed the ratchetsr derive from the oat, so the wheel now, by means of the spring-pa wlst', attached to the wheel, iu connection with the ratchet iv, secured tothe shaft q, drives the shaft at the greater velocity during the timethat the weight is falling.

Having described a way for carrying my invention into effect, I claimand desire to secure by Let-ters Patent of the United States- 1. In atide-motor, a suitably-guided fioat, racks meshing with pinions havingconnections to rotate speed-increasing gears, pinions connected with thegears and having detachable connections adapted to lift weights,combined with clutching devices to apply the weights as they fall torotate a shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a tide-motor, the combination with devices for imparting theenergy of tidal n10- tion to a train of speed-increasing mechanism thatis arranged to elevate pivoted masses, of means for temporarilyconnecting the masses as they fall to a shaft having means for absorbingenergy, so the successive impulses may cause constant rotation,substantially as described.

3. In a tide-motor, devices to receive and transmit the energy of tidalmotion to mech anism for raising isolated pivoted masses, combined withclutches to unite the several masses to a concentric shaft so it mayreceive interlnittingly -rotative impulses, substantially as described.

4. In a tide-motor, the combination with mechanism actuated by the tideto position bodies in opposition to the forces of gravity, of devices toconnect the bodies while falling with a shaft, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof` I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th dayof March, A.

FRANKLIN R. KlMl-BALL.

Witnesses:

B. M. WETMORF., GEO. A. DENHAM.

